1920s, Basal metabolism, Photograph Basal Metabolism Apparatus, 1920 June 23, 2013 Richard Johnston Leave a comment From: Laboratory Manual of the Technic of Basal Metabolic Rate Determinations, Walter Meredith Boothby, Irene Sandiford, published 1920 W.B. Saunders. Page 36 System construction attributed to H.N. Elmer, 1135 Monadnock Building, Chicago, Ill.